Donald Trump. Reuters/Donald Trump is running for president The Democratic National Committee had a clever response to Donald Trump's announcement that he is running for president, treating a candidacy observers often view with suspicion as the most serious yet.

"Today, Donald Trump became the second major Republican candidate to announce for president in two days," DNC national press secretary Holly Shulman said in a statement. "He adds some much-needed seriousness that has previously been lacking from the GOP field, and we look forward hearing more about his ideas for the nation."

Compare that to the DNC's statements on other candidates. Shulman called fellow GOP candidate Rick Santorum's ideas "backwards." The committee compared former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush (R) to "Arrested Development" character Gob Bluth. It even called former New York Gov. George Pataki (R), who is considered an afterthought of a candidate, someone whose agenda is "wrong for the middle class."

It's not surprising that Democrats are seeking to elevate Trump, who is now perhaps the GOP's most controversial candidate. He's currently in the top 10 of polling, which would put him in position to be on the GOP debate stage in August.

Trump announced his candidacy officially on Tuesday after weeks of speculation, casting himself as the only candidate who could solve the nation's problems.

"They will never make America great again. They don't even have a chance. They're controlled fully by the lobbyists, by the donors, and by the special interests — fully!" Trump said of his foes. "Our country needs a truly great leader and we need a truly great leader now. We need a leader that wrote 'The Art of the Deal.'"

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